September 5, 2019
The City of Edmonton released an
update on The City Plan that includes bold recommendations on how we will grow and develop to a city of two million people. The update, to be presented at Urban Planning Committee on September 17, will give City Council and Edmontonians an opportunity to see the recommendations and provide feedback.
Based on the vision and goals set out in
ConnectEdmonton, our city’s strategic plan, The City Plan is the policy document that frames the kinds of choices our community will make to achieve those goals as we grow. Recommendations in The City Plan include focusing future development within existing communities, putting more emphasis on mass transit and cycling options, expanding our network of open spaces and prioritizing development in key areas of the city. Edmonton’s population will take decades to grow to two million people, but the decisions made today impact the next generations.
“Edmontonians told us what kind of future they want for our city, and the City Plan will give us a blueprint to follow as our city grows and develops,” said Kalen Anderson, Director of The City Plan. “Good planning is essential to building a strong city that’s prepared for anything an uncertain world brings—economic opportunities and challenges, environmental issues and changing technology.”
Work on developing The City Plan began in early 2018, and the project team has been collecting information through extensive public engagement, including asking children what they want Edmonton to be when they become adults. Supplemented by research papers, computer models, guidance from national and international experts and meetings with hundreds of local stakeholders, The City Plan had thousands of inputs feeding into the recommendations in this report.
Edmontonians will have more opportunities to give their feedback at public engagement sessions scheduled for late October. After hearing feedback on the recommendations from City Council and the public, The City Plan team will bring the full draft plan back to City Council for feedback in spring 2020. The City Plan will then be advanced for approval as a bylaw at public hearing later in the year.
When approved, The City Plan will represent the provincially-mandated Municipal Development Plan and Transportation Master Plan and will comprehensively replace the current policy documents created a decade ago.
